South Africa v England, 4th Test, Johannesburg, 24-28 January, 2020

Congrats to England. So 3-1 in the end over the Yarps. Great result.

I sat up in Aus until Tea, enduring the van der Dussen/Faff resistance, but it seems it all happened after the break.

Wood did look the most dangerous of the bowlers, so well done him on his 9-fer.

Seriously good series win for the Poms. Strong all round team effort.

If Dane Paterson is considered one of the best seamers in SAf, the Yarps are in serious trouble.

And Faf's rumoured retirement soon will leave a massive hole in the middle order. Will Bavuma be good enough to fill it?

skully wrote:If Dane Paterson is considered one of the best seamers in SAf, the Yarps are in serious trouble.

And Faf's rumoured retirement soon will leave a massive hole in the middle order. Will Bavuma be good enough to fill it?

Rabada and Ngidi would surely replace him when available. Losing pacemen to Kolpak status has hurt them.

QDK is now their best bat.

Will Brexit not end Kolpak? That might help the SA team (and weaken the standard of the CC still further).

Anyway, whatever the opposition is like, an away series win is a big step forward for us. All the young players contributed significantly and while they will have their ups and downs, there’s a core to build around. Spin and keeper remain up for debate, and SL will be a different challenge where we will need to excel in both those departments. But we’re playing proper Test cricket again and that’s something.

Australia lost a record during this Test.

It had previously held the record for the lowest ever top score in a team total of 400 or more, with David Boon's 68 (of 471) v SL in 1992/93.

England took that record with Zak Crawley's 66 of England's 400 in this match.

It also took the lowest top score record for a team total of exactly 400, which was held by David Gower with 82 of 400 v India at Bangalore in 1981/82.

beamer wrote:Will Brexit not end Kolpak? That might help the SA team (and weaken the standard of the CC still further).

Anyway, whatever the opposition is like, an away series win is a big step forward for us. All the young players contributed significantly and while they will have their ups and downs, there’s a core to build around. Spin and keeper remain up for debate, and SL will be a different challenge where we will need to excel in both those departments. But we’re playing proper Test cricket again and that’s something.

I don't think we will play three frontline spinners in S/L. Two from Bess, Leach (if fit) and Mo (if he an be sweet talked into going) would be my guess. Root and Denly can cover the third spinner' s overs. I think the selectors will keep faith with Buttler, but all bets are off if he still fails to deliver.

skully wrote:Australia lost a record during this Test.

It had previously held the record for the lowest ever top score in a team total of 400 or more, with David Boon's 68 (of 471) v SL in 1992/93.

England took that record with Zak Crawley's 66 of England's 400 in this match.

It also took the lowest top score record for a team total of exactly 400, which was held by David Gower with 82 of 400 v India at Bangalore in 1981/82.

One of Boon’s few records that doesn’t involve beer consumption

1105 runs in the match with no century must be up there on the all-time list as well...

Lost Wombat wrote:actually bavumas wkt started the slide, and
you were right, once they got de kock out,
it was all over. great 4 england, but judging by the
crowds, test cricket is dying in SA.

(....)

Yes, tempting to conclude that, maybe obvious.

At the same time, it's a common lament in most countries - at least unless it's in England or Australia against the top teams, or India if one of the big two or three old rivals is the opposition. Second, I suppose there are few countries, few Test grounds in the world which exactly fill up when the home side is so far behind in a match.

It was good for the game, and for the Game, as well as for South Africa, that the home team didn't simply roll over and die on Days 3 and 4 - at least until a sudden last tumble of wickets towards the end. But at the start of Day 4 (the final day, as it transpired), I suppose very few home fans held out great hopes of a miraculous victory. In such cases, home supporters usually stay away.

Might also be a relatively good sign - if not directly for cricket - if most supporters had jobs to go to on the Monday?


In the case of Test cricket in South Africa, the bigger worry might be closer to the roots of the game. Much discussed (or avoided in discussion) is cricket politics. Also, politics more generally. But there's also economics. If, to make a decent living, a swathe of Test-standard South African cricketers continue to work abroad - especially in Kolpak conditions (as mooted on this thread, by beamer, might Brexit be good for South Africa cricket?) - and almost the only new Test caps are seasoned players of 30 yearsold  or more, that does not bode well.

Imagine a stronger Rand, a more stable living, and what that could do for the status and fortunes of the national team.

Failing that, it  may be predictable that the national team will be up against it, and crowds too - even if admission allows it - may vote with their feet. And all of that together is surely more damaging than a sparse, disaffected crowd - esp. a sparse home crowd - on the fourth and final day of one particular Test match..

beamer wrote:Will Brexit not end Kolpak? That might help the SA team (and weaken the standard of the CC still further).

(...)
.

On the face of it, that would be indicated.

But then: Brexit is fundamentally TWO-faced! A castle founded on the sand of the grand double standard - and driven by systemic corruption from the top down, that of covert, particular self-service, under a noble surface of patriotism, democracy & national interest.

Meaning here: a few words in the ear of Johnson from MCC circles - e.g. associates of best chums Mogg & Farage (pictured) - and a Great British Kolpak may yet be thrown together, another convenient ad hoc exception?

À la "(only) the brightest and best", or some such lofty fiat of arbitrary governance.

So: South African cricket may not yet be able to expect a shot in the arm? - it may yet be the County Championship that is announced as saved instead.

Whatever the truth of the matter.

beamer wrote:1105 runs in the match with no century must be up there on the all-time list as well...

Turns out that this Test is no. 21 on the relevant list. The top 4 Test aggregates with no individual tons are:

1272 runs – SAf (246 & 464-8d) v Eng (430 & 132-2), Durban(3), 1927-28
WR Hammond (Eng) 90

1262 runs – Aus (427 & 336) v Eng (336 & 186), Nottingham, 1987
AJ Stewart (Eng) 87

1227 runs – WI (292 & 321) v Aus (356 & 258-, Melbourne(5), 1960-61
RB Simpson (Aus) 92

1225 runs – Eng (380 & 313) v Aus (303 & 229), The Oval, 1993
IA Healy (Aus) 83*

Was the second one 1997? 1987 didn’t have an Ashes series in England, and Stewart didn’t make his debut until ‘89 or ‘90...

Indeed it was. Cheers beams.

The top 4 Test aggregates with no individual tons are:

1272 runs – SAf (246 & 464-8d) v Eng (430 & 132-2), Durban(3), 1927-28
WR Hammond (Eng) 90

1262 runs – Aus (427 & 336) v Eng (336 & 186), Nottingham, 1997
AJ Stewart (Eng) 87

1227 runs – WI (292 & 321) v Aus (356 & 258-Cool, Melbourne(5), 1960-61
RB Simpson (Aus) 92

1225 runs – Eng (380 & 313) v Aus (303 & 229), The Oval, 1993
IA Healy (Aus) 83*

How many wickets is cool?

Farkin pedant and stoopid 8 and ) together gives "cool" ().

The top 4 Test aggregates with no individual tons are:

1272 runs – SAf (246 & 464-8d) v Eng (430 & 132-2), Durban(3), 1927-28
WR Hammond (Eng) 90

1262 runs – Aus (427 & 336) v Eng (336 & 186), Nottingham, 1997
AJ Stewart (Eng) 87

1227 runs – WI (292 & 321) v Aus (356 & 258-8 ), Melbourne(5), 1960-61
RB Simpson (Aus) 92

1225 runs – Eng (380 & 313) v Aus (303 & 229), The Oval, 1993
IA Healy (Aus) 83*


Anyone else wanna be picky?

Has there ever been a Test without a 50, other than virtual washouts?

beamer wrote:Has there ever been a Test without a 50, other than virtual washouts?

I reckon the answer is "plenty".

One that immediately comes to mind is:

Eng (189 & 219) v Aus (258 & 121), Birmingham, 1981
Topscorers: JM Brearley 48 (Eng/1st); KJ Hughes 47 (Aus/2nd); MF Kent 46 (Aus/2nd)

Here’s one for you, lowest top score in a Test with a result?

beamer wrote:Here’s one for you, lowest top score in a Test with a result?

Brearley's 48 above might take some beating, but I'll see what I can do.

http://www.howstat.com/cricket/Statistics/Matches/MatchScorecard.asp?MatchCode=0028

Not even a quarter century! Still, W.G. Grace is a fitting owner of that record I suppose... I think the ICC might be looking into that pitch though.

JGK wrote:http://www.howstat.com/cricket/Statistics/Matches/MatchScorecard.asp?MatchCode=0028

Cheers MrK.

England's last cricket for 2020?